X-Ray Inspection System

Introduction

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is seeking information regarding advanced X-ray inspection systems to support the research, development, characterization, and failure analysis of rechargeable battery technologies. The NRC's Automotive and Surface Transportation (AST) Research Centre conducts research and testing on a broad range of energy storage systems, including lithium-ion, sodium-ion, solid-state, and emerging battery technologies intended for transportation, aerospace, defence, and stationary energy storage applications.

As battery systems become increasingly complex and energy dense, there is a growing need for non-destructive techniques capable of revealing internal structural features and defects that may affect performance, reliability, safety, and manufacturability. X-ray inspection provides a valuable method for visualizing internal battery structures without disassembly, enabling researchers to evaluate cell construction, manufacturing quality, degradation mechanisms, and failure modes throughout the product lifecycle.

The AST team operates one of Canada's leading battery testing and characterization facilities, supporting government, industry, and academic partners across the battery value chain. The addition of advanced X-ray inspection capabilities would complement existing electrochemical, thermal, and safety testing infrastructure by providing high-fidelity internal imaging of battery components and assemblies.

Objectives

The primary objective of this Request for Information (RFI) is to identify and evaluate commercially available X-ray inspection systems suitable for rechargeable battery research, development, characterization, and failure analysis applications. NRC is particularly interested in high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) X-ray imaging systems capable of examining battery cells, cell components, and related assemblies. While inspection throughput is not a primary consideration, image quality, spatial resolution, defect detection capability, sample manipulation flexibility, system versatility, and suitability for laboratory-based research are of significant interest.

The information gathered through this RFI will assist NRC in understanding the current state of available technologies, identifying relevant capabilities and limitations, and informing the development of future technical requirements.

AMD 001 to answer questions 1 to 4.